Oral health-related quality of life in elderly: an umbrella review of systematic reviews from a multidisciplinary rehabilitation point-of-view

Background. Poor oral health is highly prevalent among elderlies and may impact quality of life of elderly people. In this scenario, oral health has been often linked to general health and chronic disorders, including distinct features of frailty. The aim of the present umbrella review of systematic reviews was to assess the scientific literature on the correlation between oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) and elderly to present a multidisciplinary approach to these complex patients. Methods. We performed a literature search of the databases PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database electronic databases. Two independent reviewers performed the literature research from the inception to 25th November 2023 and screened the studies for eligibility. Results. The search resulted in a total of 676 results eligible articles. After removal of duplicates and full-text screening, a total of 3 systematic reviews were considered to meet the inclusion criteria and were included for this review. Conclusions. Frailty is very common in elderly such as a poor oral health. In this scenario, malnutrition and bad lifestyle habits may affect not only the determinism of many systemic non-communicable diseases but also oral health quality. Taken together, the findings of this umbrella review of systematic reviews showed a strict correlation between the frailty, typical condition of ageing people, and a poor OHRQoL. Therefore, it is mandatory to implement the oral health prevention with specific protocols of oral rehabilitation to improve the OHRQoL in elderly

Is fluorescein-guided technique able to help in resection of high-grade gliomas?

OBJECT: Fluorescein, a dye that is widely used as a fluorescent tracer, accumulates in cerebral areas where the blood-brain barrier is damaged. This quality makes it an ideal dye for the intraoperative visualization of high-grade gliomas (HGGs). The authors report their experience with a new fluorescein-guided technique for the resection of HGGs using a dedicated filter on the surgical microscope. METHODS: The authors initiated a prospective Phase II trial (FLUOGLIO) in September 2011 with the objective of evaluating the safety of fluorescein-guided surgery for HGGs and obtaining preliminary evidence regarding its efficacy for this purpose. To be eligible for participation in the study, a patient had to have suspected HGG amenable to complete resection of the contrast-enhancing area. The present report is based on the analysis of the short- and long-term results in 20 consecutive patients with HGGs (age range 45-74 years), enrolled in the study since September 2011. In all cases fluorescein (5-10 mg/kg) was injected intravenously after intubation. Tumor resection was performed with microsurgical technique and fluorescence visualization by means of BLUE 400 or YELLOW 560 filters on a Pentero microscope. RESULTS: The median preoperative tumor volume was 30.3 cm(3) (range 2.4-87.8 cm(3)). There were no adverse reactions related to fluorescein administration. Complete removal of contrast-enhanced tumor was achieved in 80% of the patients. The median duration of follow-up was 10 months. The 6-months progression-free survival rate was 71.4% and the median survival was 11 months. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of these 20 cases suggested that fluorescein-guided technique with a dedicated filter on the surgical microscope is safe and allows a high rate of complete resection of contrast-enhanced tumor as determined on early postoperative MRI. Clinical trial registration no.: 2011-002527-18 (EudraCT)

Simple Parameters from Complete Blood Count Predict In-Hospital Mortality in COVID-19

The clinical course of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly heterogenous, ranging from asymptomatic to fatal forms. The identification of clinical and laboratory predictors of poor prognosis may assist clinicians in monitoring strategies and therapeutic decisions